Perth consent educators warn progress in WA schools at risk from sexist online influencers

Leading WA consent educators have warned significant progress in teaching respectful relationships in Perth schools is being undermined by online influencers instilling sexism in teenage boys.

We Are W/M founders Nicolette Beard and Kate Raston say schools and parents have embraced their consent-focused relationships and sexuality education programs, which the pair have delivered to almost 30,000 young people.

But they are concerned about a “gender divide” that exists online, perpetuating the stereotype of women as feminine housewives and men as powerful, masculine and controlling.

Ms Beard said many boys were open, thoughtful and engaged in learning about consent, boundaries, healthy communication and respectful behaviour, but a different story was emerging online.

“We do hear from schools that there is a lot of sexism going on, especially in the younger years,” she said.

“Unfortunately, we are fighting with these influential people online, like Andrew Tate and this toxic manosphere, red pill content and the incel movement, where young boys are getting swept up in that.”

“Red pill” content refers to a manosphere ideology promoted online, which claims men are being oppressed by a feminist-dominated society.

Ms Beard said the trend was emerging in boys aged 12 to 14, in years six to nine.

“When young boys are going through puberty . . . they’re looking up for inspiration on what it means to be a man. And unfortunately, these negative influences are so loud that sometimes the good voices are kind of drowned out by that,” she said.

“What we really try to do is teach young boys, and young girls, that we are each other’s counterparts . . . that women are their friends, their life partners, sisters, mothers, daughters.

“And trying to remind young men that that it’s not a war on gender.”

They said positive change had taken place across the education sector after a 2024 survey found misogynistic behaviour and toxic masculinity were widespread in many private all-boys schools.

The final report, compiled by Ms Raston and former boys’ school students Henry Prior and Damon Hortle, revealed a “hyper-masculine” culture in private schools, with normalised misogynistic attitudes.

“Such environments reinforce the idea that disrespecting women is acceptable and even commendable, leading to a cycle of harmful behaviour that extends beyond school years,” the report read.

The survey featured more than 400 comments from 113 students, who told of inadequate sex education and a focus on abstinence in Catholic education. It highlighted derogatory comments about women, objectification and a lack of respect for female teachers and peers.

Ms Raston said since the survey was published, schools had been working hard to support students “in an environment where algorithms and online influencers can sometimes promote concerning narratives around gender roles and relationships”.

“There is always room for continued discussion, particularly with teenagers who are constantly growing and navigating an increasingly complex online world,” she said.

The duo have branched out into workshops for parents and workplaces, to educate adults who missed out on consent education in schools.